Wind energy plant with drainage

ABSTRACT

A wind power installation comprising a pylon comprising a pylon, a generator supported by the pylon and rotor blades coupled to the generator. The wind power installation further includes a first door to allow entrance into and exit from the interior of the pylon, a first level disposed in the interior of the pylon and directly accessible via the first door, the first level having a lock space including living quarters or sanitary equipment disposed therein. In addition, the wind power installation includes a second door disposed between the lock space and other portions of the interior of the pylon, wherein the second door is moisture-tight, a second level, disposed in the interior of the pylon and accessible via the second door, and a power module including a transformer housed in a moisture-tight container and electrically coupled to the generator, wherein the power module is disposed in the other portions of the interior of the pylon.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional application of application Ser. No.10/543,020 (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,436,084), filed Mar. 29, 2006, which isthe National Stage of International Application No. PGT/EP2004/00918,filed on Feb. 2, 2004; both applications claim priority to German PatentApplications 103 10 036.9, filed Mar. 6, 2003, and 103 04 026.9, filedFeb. 1, 2003; the contents of these applications are incorporated hereinby reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention concerns a method of erecting a wind power installationand the wind power installation in its configuration itself.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Hitherto, when erecting wind power installations, a foundation wasfirstly constructed, then the pylon of the wind power installation waserected and then the machine housing was fitted at the top of the pylonand the rotor with the rotor blades was mounted in position. Thereafterthe electrical power modules such as the transformer, switchingcabinets, possibly an inverter, a medium voltage installation and soforth are installed. That is almost always done in a small buildingspecific for that purpose, outside the wind power installation.

DE 198 16 483.1 has already proposed disposing the transformer in thepylon in the interior thereof so that there is no longer any need forthe erection of a specific transformer building with its own foundation.

SUMMARY

Now, an object of one aspect of the invention is to develop a method bymeans of which the erection of wind power installations can be effectedstill more conveniently but in particular also more quickly

A further aim of one aspect of the invention is to provide in particulara solution which is suitable for offshore wind power installations.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention it is firstly proposedthat the power module is arranged in a container having walls which aredisposed between the wall of the pylon and the power module. Accordinglytherefore the power module has its own enclosure or is disposed in aseparate space within the pylon of the wind power installation. Theparticular advantage of that structure is that in that way, in aparticular fashion, in relation to offshore wind power installations, itis possible to ensure that, when water penetrates into the pylon, thepower module and the items of electrical equipment installed therein arenot also detrimentally affected at the same time.

If the transformer and the further parts of the power module such asswitching installations, inverters and so forth are disposed in aseparate space within the wind power installation, it is also relativelysimple for those components to be separated from the rest of the ambientair within the pylon of the wind power installation. Under certaincircumstances in a wind power installation that can be very important ifit is operated as an offshore wind power installation and therefore acertain salt content in the air is not improbable. Enclosing theelectrically sensitive parts in a housing means that in principle theycan be protected from the salt-bearing internal air within the pylon ofthe wind power installation, for example by the enclosing housing andthe power module also being provided with a personnel-negotiable lockarrangement. If cooling is necessary for the electrical parts within theenclosing housing, then the arrangement can have suitable cooling ductswhich lead into the interior of the pylon and for example also extendalong the pylon wall and through which air can be introduced here intothe cooling ducts (by way of a fan) and then passes in a cooledcondition back into the enclosing housing again so that the same air isalways circulated within the enclosing housing and that air does notinvolve the addition thereto of the air, which under some circumstancesbears salt, in the rest of the interior of the pylon.

The power module in the container, as a departure from the previousdesign structure of wind power installations, can already be placed onthe foundation of the wind power installation after it has been set up,before the pylon is erected, or the container with the power module isalready mounted and fixed within the pylon at the factory so thaterection of the wind power installation is also possible without theelectrical parts of the offshore wind power installations, which aresensitive to moisture and damp, being detrimentally affected whenerecting those installations.

The power modules are as far as possible already prefabricated andmounted on carriers so that, using a crane which is required in any casefor erecting a wind power installation, the power modules can be placedon the pylon foundation or a platform and the entire system productionprocedure, in particular laying cables and the entire system preparationprocess for the wind power installation by adjusting control modules,setting up the switching cabinets etc can take place in a protectedspace and it is possible to begin those activities after the pylon hasbeen erected.

It is also particularly advantageous if the supports of the powermodules and/or the containers for the power module have at theirunderside support feet which in turn rest on pre-positioned plates onthe pylon foundation. Those plates are already let into and fixed in thefoundation when the foundation is produced, at given positions, so thatlater establishment of the power modules can be effected in a verysimple fashion.

Finally it is also highly advantageous if empty tubes are provided forthe cables which extend out of the wind power installation, that is tosay in particular the power transmission cables, control cables and soforth. Empty tube tie bars are provided for those empty tubes in thefoundation of a wind power installation or above the foundation andthose empty tube tie bars fix the empty tubes in a defined position. Forthat purpose the tie bars are held by means of holding arms which inturn are again exactly predetermined in parts of the foundation or atthe lower section of the cable feed arrangement and in particular arelaid in such a way that the cables which extend out of the power moduleinto the foundation have a standardized, shortest and optimum cableroute.

The measures according to one aspect of the invention therefore alsoalready facilitate the entire electrical setup of the wind powerinstallation by prefabrication of individual modules or standardizationsuch as empty tube tie bars, power module supports etc, whenestablishing the foundation.

The entire erection time of the wind power installation can be markedlyreduced with the measures according to one aspect of the invention. Inaddition, the costs for the entire wind power installation erectionprocedure can be reduced with one aspect of the invention without havingto accept any technical disadvantages.

Aspects of the invention are described in greater detail hereinafter bymeans of an embodiment illustrated in a drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a foundation, without concrete filling, andsupport plates, according to an embodiment of aspects of the invention;

FIG. 2 shows the foundation of FIG. 1 after filling with concrete;

FIG. 3 shows a power module, without its enclosing housing, on thesupport plates of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of aspects of theinvention;

FIG. 4 shows the power module of FIG. 3 and a pylon;

FIG. 5 shows a side view of a wind power installation, according to anembodiment of aspects of the invention;

FIG. 6 shows a cross section view taken along line A-A in FIG. 5, of thewind power installation of FIG. 5, according to one embodiment ofaspects of the invention;

FIG. 7 shows a longitudinal cross section view of a region of the windpower installation of FIG. 5, according to one embodiment of aspects ofthe invention;

FIG. 8 shows a cut-away view of a wind power installation according toone embodiment of aspects of the invention;

FIG. 9 shows a partly cut-away view of one level of the wind powerinstallation of FIG. 8, according to one embodiment of aspects of theinvention;

FIG. 10 shows a partly cut-away view of one level of the wind powerinstallation of FIG. 8, according to one embodiment of aspects of theinvention;

FIG. 11 shows a partly cut-away view of a power cabinet level of thewind power installation of FIG. 8, according to one embodiment ofaspects of the invention;

FIGS. 12-16 show views of portions of a wind power installation,according to one embodiment of aspects of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a pre-established foundation (withoutconcrete filling) with a steel reinforcement 1 and 2, on an empty tube 3which is held by way of a strut arrangement 4 to a lowermost pylonsection which adjoins the reinforcement. The figure also shows supportplates 5 which are mounted for holding arms 6 in the lowermost sectionof the pylon (for the major part they are no longer to be seen at alater time after erection of the wind power installation).

The empty tube 3 serves later for receiving cables, for example thepower cables, by way of which all the electrical energy from the windpower installation is taken to the network by way of underground cables.For that purpose there is often not just a single tube but a pluralityof tubes.

FIG. 2 shows the foundation section after filling with the concrete. Itis to be seen in that respect that the empty tubes remain in theirpre-fixed position and the support plates are also concreted intoposition, in which respect, in the concreting operation, care is to betaken to ensure that the support plates rest fully on the structuralconcrete and thus ensure that the load is carried over an area. Theconcrete extends to the upper edge of the support plates and iscarefully joined to the plate edges.

After the concrete has set the holding arms for holding the supportplates and also the tie bars for fixing the empty tubes can bedismantled and re-used for erecting further installations.

After the concrete has set, for further erection of the wind powerinstallation, the pylon is not placed on the foundation section—as hashitherto been usual—but firstly the power module according to oneembodiment of aspects of the invention is placed on the support plates.

Such a power module 7 is shown in FIG. 3 in a two-part configuration,still without its enclosing housing, in which respect the power modulecan also comprise further parts.

The two parts of the power module 7 are placed one above the other inthe illustrated embodiment and the entire power module comprises twomutually superposed supports 8 which in turn again receive essentialparts of the power modules, that is to say for example the transformer,inverter, switching cabinets, medium voltage installation and so forth.

The mutually superposed supports are constructed in the manner of aframe and fit exactly one above the other so that reliable fixingrelative to each other is also guaranteed.

The individual supports have inter alia four vertically oriented beammembers—defining a rectangle—which are connected together. Those beammembers are screwed together at their underside and top side.

After the electrical power module has been set up on the foundation thepylon is erected and in that situation is fitted over the power module.For that purpose the outside dimensions of the power module in terms ofbreadth and length are less than the inside diameter of the pylon in thelower pylon region/foundation region.

After the pylon has been erected the wind power installation is equippedas usual with the machine housing, the rotor is mounted in place andsuitable electrical connections are made between the generator and thepower module for bringing the installation into operation and the powermodule is connected (output of the transformer) to the power supplynetwork.

When the above-described empty tubes or devices provided for carryingcables are pre-fixed in given prescribed positions, the connectionbetween the power module and the network can also be made extremelyquickly and advantageously, in which respect the cable lengths overallare optimized because the empty tubes are positioned and thus the cablesissue from the foundation, at the location where they are required inthe case of a standardized. optimized structural configuration forconnection to the corresponding parts of the power module.

In the case of the wind power installation according to one embodimentof aspects of the invention it is advantageous if access to the windpower installation is no longer necessarily through a conventional doorin the fixed foundation region but through a door (access) which is sopositioned that it opens into the region above the parts of the powermodule, which are carrying high or medium voltage. For that purpose asuitable ladder or staircase can be provided at the outside of thepylon. That positioning of the access door has the advantage that thepersonnel who must relatively frequently enter the installation do notalways have to move past the parts of the power module, which arecarrying voltages, while the installation is in operation. That alsoensures that no one is in the immediately proximity of the power moduleunexpectedly or by mistake while the wind power installation is inoperation, and thus comes into contact with voltage-carrying orcurrent-carrying parts, which could cause a serious accident.

Then, provided in the region of the pylon access door is a suitableintermediate platform which the personnel entering the pylon cannegotiate in order then to climb further up in the wind powerinstallation in the interior of the pylon or to carry out adjustments atvarious control devices or also read off measurement data.

A wind power installation of the type according to one embodiment ofaspects of the invention involves such an installation which usually hasmore than 100 kW rated power, preferably a rated power in the region of500 kW, 1 MW, 1.5 MW or markedly higher. Preferably the intermediateplatform is provided with a closable panel through which the personnelcan climb into the lower region of the power module. Closure of the flapensures that the lower part of the power module is further safeguardedagainst unauthorized access or entry.

In that case the inside diameter of the pylon in the foundation regioncan be several meters so that the entire area there is for example 100m2 or more and therefore there is a sufficiently large area forreceiving the power modules. Insofar as the term ‘power module’ is usedIn this application, that means in particular the converter and networktransfer region of the wind power installation. These are in particularthe assemblies such as the transformer or inverter or emergency switchesas well as the medium voltage switching cabinet or also thedistributors.

As mentioned the power module is to be disposed in its own container orspace within the wind power installation. That container can comprise acylindrical tube which, after the power module has been placed on thefoundation, is fitted over the entire power module or the power moduleis already disposed at the factory within the cylindrical tube so that,for transporting the cylindrical tube, the entire power module istransported. The container can in particular also be very substantiallyclosed towards all sides but it is provided with at least one accessdoor and, if the power module is constructed on a plurality of levelswithin the tube, it is also possible for the various levels of the powermodule to be reached by way of stairways or ladders within the module.

It is also possible to provide within the container an additional spaceor room which is available for example as a changing room and/or restroom for people such as service engineers and so forth. That is highlyappropriate in particular when an embodiment of aspects of the inventionis embodied in relation to offshore wind power installations and in abad weather situation the engineers are obliged to remain within thewind power installation for a certain time. That room or space shouldtherefore also be provided with the most necessary items which permit aprolonged stay such as for example fresh water, food, sleepingarrangements, communication equipment.

In addition that space or room can perform a lock arrangement functionand can be hermetically sealable in relation to the interior of the windpower installation. In that way for example in the case of a fire in thewind power installation people can take refuge there and arrange for andawait their rescue.

If the enclosing housing comprises a cylindrical tube, the upper andlower tube ends or further additional openings which are possiblyprovided can be closed for transport to the building site or the upperand lower tube ends are fixedly closed from the outset so that, even insevere weather, transport to the building site or an interruption in thebuilding activity does not entail the risk of sea water or moisturebeing able to penetrate into the container and thus reach theelectrically sensitive parts of the power module.

If cooling of the power module elements is necessary, the container isalso so designed that air exchange between the interior of the powermodule and the interior of the pylon of the wind power installation ispossible. Preferably however only heat dissipation of the waste heatfrom the power module to the interior of the pylon can occur outside thepower module. For that purpose, it is possible to provide a closed aircircuit for the power module, which delivers the heat to the interior ofthe pylon by way of a suitable heat exchanger, for example in the formof a cooling coil.

If cooling of the individual elements of the power module is necessarythat can also be effected by air being passed from the interior of theenclosing housing by way of air ducts 12—FIG. 7—(air shafts) which onthe one hand open into the enclosing housing, and by those air shaftsagain returning the cooled air back into the enclosing housing atanother location. Positive convection of the air within the enclosinghousing is to be established by fans at the entry and/or exit of theindividual air shafts. If those air ducts (air shafts) are passeddirectly at the pylon of the wind power installation in contacttherewith, for example also being in a spiral configuration in aplurality of layers in mutually superposed relationship, then the air iscooled within the air ducts because the pylon wall itself forms acooling element which always has air or water flowing around it from theexterior. The above-mentioned variant has the particular advantage thatthe interior of the enclosing housing is then always separated from theinterior of the pylon and, if the wind power installation is an offshorewind power installation, then the interior of the enclosing housing isvery certain to be protected from coming into contact with possiblysalt-bearing air which has penetrated into the interior of the pylon.This means that all electrical parts of the power module in the interiorof the enclosing housing are protected from contact with air which has avery strong attacking effect such as salt-bearing air without measuresbeing absolutely necessary for simultaneously protecting the entireinterior of the pylon from the ingress of salt-bearing air.

In the case of a closed enclosing housing for the transformer and theother electronic elements, it is appropriate also to dispose within theenclosing housing a fire protection arrangement which is activated whena fire breaks out there. That fire protection arrangement can forexample also provide that the entire arrangement is flooded with aninert gas, for example CO₂, so that the oxygen content within theenclosing housing is reduced and thus a possible fire is deprived of thenecessary oxygen. Instead of a gas such as CO₂ however it is alsopossible to use a gas such as nitrogen or another inert gas. That inertgas is stored in a tank and is supplied by way of one or more sensorswhich respond in a fire situation (or at a greatly increasedtemperature), by way of a valve which closes the tank with the inert gasso that the inert gas can flow very rapidly into the enclosing housing.

Under some circumstances safety devices are provided, for preventing theinert gas being capable of flowing into the enclosing housing whenpeople are disposed therein. Such a safety device can also include forexample switching elements which are activated on the part of theoperating personnel when entering the enclosing housing so that then theinert gases are prevented from flowing into the enclosing housing.

In the event that nonetheless salt-bearing air should pass into theenclosing housing, it is also advantageous if there are means within theenclosing housing, for removing salt from the air which is presentthere.

So that as little salt-bearing air as possible can pass into theenclosing housing, it is also advantageous if the enclosing housing isprovided with a lock arrangement which is preferably made from a glassfiber reinforced plastic material (GRP). If the operating personnel wantto enter the enclosing housing by way of the lock arrangement, air ispassed under pressure into the look arrangement so that the operatingpersonnel can pass into the enclosing housing against an air flow It istherefore advantageous if the enclosing housing is also connected to afurther tank, within which substantially salt-free air is stored whichis then passed into the enclosing housing under pressure when operatingpersonnel wish to go into the enclosing housing by way of the lockarrangement.

It is also advantageous if there are within the enclosing housing meanswhich are so adapted as to minimize the moisture content within theenclosing housing. Such a means can be for example a Peltier element.

The means for removing salt from the air and also for reducing themoisture content are possibly activated if corresponding sensors whichare responsive to the salt content in the air or the moisture contentdetect that a given salt value or moisture content value is exceeded.The means for removing salt from the air and also for reducing themoisture content are then activated until the salt content and/or themoisture content has fallen below a predetermined value.

The enclosing housing with the power module enclosed therein can beplaced on the foundation of the wind power installation or on a platformwithin the pylon of the wind power installation. That platform canpreferably also be disposed very far up just under the machine housingof the wind power installation in order in that fashion to ensure in thebest possible way that as little salt as possible can pass into theenclosing housing, in the case of a wind power installation which is setup as an offshore installation.

It is also advantageous if the data which the sensors for the saltcontent and/or the moisture content measure are forwarded to a centralstation in which the entire wind power installation is controlled ormonitored. The means for reducing the salt content or for reducing themoisture content within the enclosing housing can be activated by way ofthe central station.

To prevent the outbreak of a fire in relation to parts of the powermodule, it is also possible for an atmosphere with a low oxygen contentto prevail within the entire enclosing housing, during normal operation.That can be effected for example by oxygen being removed from the airwithin the enclosing housing so that the oxygen content falls below thenormal oxygen content of air. It will be appreciated that it is alsopossible for a high CO₂ content (up to 100%) or nitrogen content (up to100%) or of another inert gas (from a tank) to be provided in the entireenclosing housing. It is only when the operating personnel wish to enterthe enclosing housing that then a normal atmosphere is restored withinthe enclosing housing so that it is possible to stay therein. In such acase it is appropriate if the lock arrangement is to be opened only whenan atmosphere which permits a person to stay within the enclosinghousing without breathing equipment is produced within the enclosinghousing.

The enclosing housing according to one embodiment of aspects of theinvention can be disposed not only within the wind power installationbut also mounted to the pylon directly on the outside thereof That canbe effected for example by the entire enclosing housing being mounted ona platform externally on the pylon or fixed directly to the pylon. Ifthe enclosing housing is in the form of a closed tube and if that tubeis arranged externally on the pylon then people can enter the enclosinghousing by way of a door or lock arrangement to the enclosing housingand the interior of the pylon. With this variant it is also readilypossible for the interior of the enclosing housing to be cooled by wayof air ducts which extend into or surround the pylon, without theoutside air which surrounds the wind power installation coming intocontact with the air within the enclosing housing.

It is also advantageous if the enclosing housing is of a multi-partconfiguration so that for example when replacing an individual part ofthe power module it is not necessary to remove the entire enclosinghousing but only the module part of the enclosing housing, whichdirectly surrounds the part of the power module that has to be replaced.

FIG. 5 shows a side view of a wind power installation 1 according to oneembodiment of aspects of the invention with a pylon 9. FIG. 6 shows asection taken along line A-A in FIG. 5. In this respect it can be seenfrom FIG. 6 that an enclosing housing 10 is disposed between the powermodule 7 and the pylon wall, which housing 10 can also be a tube.

FIG. 7 shows a view in longitudinal section through the pylon region. Itcan be seen in this respect that once again the enclosing housing 10completely screens the power module 7 from the pylon wall 9. For coolingthe power module, the air within the enclosing housing is caused to flowby way of a fan 11 into an air cooling duct 12 and that air duct 12 isin part mounted directly to the pylon wall 9 so that in particular therethe heated air can be cooled down and can then flow back again into theenclosing housing 10. It is apparent that the air cooling ducts canassume any shape and in particular can also be passed in a spiralconfiguration along the pylon wall 9 in order in that way to provide foroptimum cooling of the air within the air duct 12.

FIG. 8 shows a cut-away view of a wind power installation according toone embodiment of aspects of the invention, from which it can be seenthat various parts of the wind power installation are disposed ondifferent levels within an enclosing housing.

FIG. 9 shows a partly cut-away plan view of one of the levels shown inFIG. 8. FIG. 9 shows a plan view (in partly cut-away form) on to theentry level (third level) at which there are disposed a control cabinet,a control desk, a DUV desk and so forth. The floor panels laid there canbe removed in order to convey parts which are below that level into thethird level and thus also into the entry and exit level. Under somecircumstances that is important when for example a part has to be movedup from the first and second level to the third level by means of acrane in order then to be conveyed outwardly by way of the entrance ofthe wind power installation.

FIG. 11 shows a partly cut-away view of a power cabinet level. Suchpower cabinet levels can also be provided at a plurality of levels, forexample at the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th levels, because, in the case ofrelatively large installations, a plurality of power cabinets areusually required and under some circumstances not all of them can bedisposed in one level. In that respect it is also to be noted thatprovided at each level are wall openings for used air so that used aircan be discharged through collecting ducts and can be passed into thepylon of the wind power installation where the air is then cooled byheat exchange with the pylon wall.

If the enclosing housing is closed it is also possible for the airpressure within the enclosing housing to be different from the airpressure outside that housing and in particular also the air pressureoutside the enclosing housing but within the pylon.

Finally it can also be provided that a heating and/or cooling device isdisposed within the enclosing housing and/or in one of the air ducts sothat it is possible to influence the temperature within the enclosinghousing. A heating device is appropriate under some circumstances whenthe installation—for whatever reasons—has stopped for a prolonged periodof time and in winter cools down to temperatures which are undesirable.On the other hand, cooling of the air within the enclosing housing canbe very effectively and quickly effected with a cooling device (forexample a heat exchanger).

Finally it is advantageous if the entire enclosing housing is in theform of a self-supporting arrangement so that the entire enclosinghousing can be transported and in particular moved on a crane, with thedevices disposed in the enclosing housing. Particularly if the enclosinghousing is a tube (for example of steel), such a design configuration isreadily possible. The advantage of that design configuration is inparticular that then the entire enclosing housing, together with allparts therein, can be produced at the factory and thus with the highestlevel of quality and then only still remains to be transported to thelocation at which it is to be erected.

The above-indicated structure can also considerably facilitate possiblelater dismantling.

FIGS. 12 to 16 show further details of a wind power installationaccording to one embodiment of aspects of the invention with the powermodule already described above. In this respect the description explainsin particular how a lock arrangement is provided between the externalentrance to the pylon of the wind power installation and the interior ofthe installation, that is to say where the important electronic andelectrical parts of the power module are disposed, which lockarrangement, in the situation where the entire wind power installationis used as an offshore wind power installation, prevents salt-bearingair or salt water from being capable of passing into the interior of theinstallation and thus damaging or destroying electrical or electronicparts.

FIG. 15 shows in a partial longitudinal section of the lower pylon,various levels to which the power module is distributed under certaincircumstances and, at top right in FIG. 15, the external entrance to theinterior of the pylon. That entrance is usually a gate or door which isrespectively closable. As can already be seen from FIG. 15, a platform101 extends from that door 100 inwardly substantially perpendicularly tothe pylon wall, the platform 101 preferably being connected directly tothe pylon so that the platform can already be walked upon when the pylonis set up.

FIG. 16 shows a view from above of the structure shown in FIG. 15,illustrating the tube module 7 as well as the door 100 and the platform101. Laterally in relation to the platform there are further platforms,preferably gratings, which are also fixedly mounted to the pylon walland which make it possible for a person to go to the ladder 103 providedin the pylon, through the door 100, by way of the above-describedplatforms 101, 102, when already at a very early stage afterconstruction of the wind power installation.

As can also be seen from the plan view but also from FIG. 15, disposeddirectly adjoining the platform 101 towards the interior of the pylon isa space (see also in this respect FIG. 10, the bottom right partthereof) which possibly together with the space which is above theplatform 101 forms a closed lock arrangement. The area of that lockspace is shown by hatching in FIG. 16.

Operating personnel pass into that lock space from the exterior and inthat space can possibly change clothing or at least stay for a shorttime. Sanitary equipment is also provided therein. In that lock spacethere is a further door 104 which leads to the interior of the pylon,that is to say to the items of equipment of the power module.

That door 104 is preferably moisture-tight so that when under somecircumstances moisture passes into the lock space, it cannot penetrateinto the interior of the installation through the door 104.

FIG. 12 shows a view from the exterior on to the entrance door 100 ofthe wind power installation.

FIG. 13 shows once again a portion on an enlarged scale viewing into thelock entrance space of FIG. 16.

FIG. 14 shows a further detail view from FIG. 15. It can be clearly seentherein that the floor of the lock entrance space is fixed to the pyloninterior itself and that floor is preferably moisture-transmitting sothat, when spray water or the like passes into the lock entrance spacewhen the entrance door 100 is opened, the spray water or the like canflow away through the floor. Provided beneath the floor which ispreferably also in the form of a grating is a water-impervious panelwhich is inclined outwardly towards the pylon wall. If therefore spraywater or also moisture from the clothing of the operating personneldrips off into that space through the grating, that water can flow awaydirectly outwardly again through an opening 105.

As can also be seen from FIG. 16 but also FIGS. 14 and 13 the lockentrance space 108 can be closable by a further door 106. That doorwhich is preferably also moisture-tight and water-tight separates thelock entrance space in relation to the lock central space with thesanitary equipment which has already been described above.

1. A wind power installation comprising: a pylon; a generator supportedby the pylon; rotor blades coupled to the generator; a first door toallow entrance into and exit from the interior of the pylon; a firstlevel disposed in the interior of the pylon and directly accessible viathe first door, the first level having a lock space including livingquarters or sanitary equipment disposed therein, wherein the lock spaceincludes a floor having a grating portion to allow liquid to pass therethrough; a second door disposed between the lock space and otherportions of the interior of the pylon, wherein the second door ismoisture-tight; a water-impervious panel, disposed beneath at least aportion of the grating portion of the floor of the lock space; anopening in the wall of the pylon, wherein the opening is coupled to thewater-impervious panel so that liquid can flow from the panel throughthe opening and exit the interior of the pylon; a second level, disposedin the interior of the pylon and accessible via the second door; and apower module including a transformer housed in a moisture-tightcontainer and electrically coupled to the generator, wherein the powermodule is disposed in the other portions of the interior of the pylon.2. The wind power installation of claim 1 wherein the floor of the lockspace is fixed directly to the interior wall of the pylon.
 3. The windpower installation of claim 1 wherein the first door opens to thegrating portion of the floor of the lock space.
 4. The wind powerinstallation of claim 1 wherein the grating portion is fixedly mountedto the interior of the pylon wall.
 5. The wind power installation ofclaim 1 wherein the second level is below the first level.
 6. The windpower installation of claim 1 wherein portions of the power module aredisposed on the second level.
 7. The wind power installation of claim 1wherein the lock space includes a control cabinet and a control desk. 8.The wind power installation of claim 1 wherein the pylon is fixed to afoundation and wherein the floor of the lock space is suspended abovethe foundation and fixed directly to the interior wall of the pylon. 9.A wind power installation comprising: a pylon; a generator supported bythe pylon; rotor blades coupled to the generator; a first door to allowentrance into and exit from the interior of the pylon; a first leveldisposed in the interior of the pylon and directly accessible via thefirst door, the first level having a lock space including livingquarters or sanitary equipment disposed therein, wherein lock spaceincludes two portions including: a lock entrance space having first andsecond boundaries wherein the first boundary of the lock entrance spaceis adjacent to the first door; and a lock central space having first andsecond boundaries wherein the first boundary of the lock central spaceis adjacent to the second door, wherein the living quarters and sanitaryequipment are disposed in the lock central space; a second door disposedbetween the lock space and other portions of the interior of the pylon,wherein the second door is moisture-tight; a second level, disposed inthe interior of the pylon and accessible via the second door; a thirddoor disposed between the second boundary of the lock entrance space andthe second boundary of the lock central space; and a power moduleincluding a transformer housed in a moisture-tight container andelectrically coupled to the generator, wherein the power module isdisposed in the other portions of the interior of the pylon.
 10. Thewind power installation of claim 9 wherein the third door ismoisture-tight.
 11. The wind power installation of claim 9 whereinportions of the power module are disposed on the second level.
 12. Thewind power installation of claim 9 wherein the lock space includes acontrol cabinet and a control desk.
 13. The wind power installation ofclaim 9 wherein the pylon is fixed to a foundation and wherein the floorof the lock space is suspended above the foundation and fixed directlyto the interior wall of the pylon.
 14. The wind power installation ofclaim 9 further including: a water-impervious panel, disposed beneath atleast a portion of a grating portion of the floor of the lock space; anopening in the wall of the pylon, wherein the opening is coupled to thewater-impervious panel so that liquid can flow from the panel throughthe opening and exit the interior of the pylon.
 15. The wind powerinstallation of claim 14 wherein the grating portion is fixedly mountedto the interior of the pylon wall.
 16. The wind power installation ofclaim 9 wherein the second level is below the first level.
 17. A windpower installation comprising: a pylon; a generator supported by thepylon; rotor blades coupled to the generator; a first door to allowentrance into and exit from the interior of the pylon; a first leveldisposed in the interior of the pylon and directly accessible via thefirst door, the first level having a lock space including livingquarters or sanitary equipment disposed therein, wherein the lock spaceincludes a floor, wherein the floor of the lock space includes a gratingportion to allow liquid to pass there through and wherein the lock spaceincludes two portions including: a lock entrance space having first andsecond boundaries wherein the first boundary of the lock entrance spaceis adjacent to the first door; and a lock central space having first andsecond boundaries wherein the first boundary of the lock central spaceis adjacent to the second door, wherein the living quarters and sanitaryequipment are disposed in the lock central space; a second door disposedbetween the lock space and other portions of the interior of the pylon,wherein the second door is moisture-tight; a second level, disposed inthe interior of the pylon and accessible via the second door; a thirddoor disposed between the second boundary of the lock entrance space andthe second boundary of the lock central space; and a power moduleincluding a transformer housed in a moisture-tight container andelectrically coupled to the generator, wherein the power module isdisposed in the other portions of the interior of the pylon.
 18. Thewind power installation of claim 17 wherein the third door ismoisture-tight.